Express Employment Professionals
Express Employment ProfessionalsJessica Martin was looking for a career change, but little did she know what she was getting herself into. "I had worked for the Ontario Government in Gaming at the Point Edward Charity Casino previously, and I was ready for a move." Jessica says. So, when Jessica was offered a position with Express Employment Professionals (EEP) in 2018, she made the leap.
Suddenly, Jessica was in a whole new world — one she has grown to love. "I had never worked in staffing before," Jessica says. "I have experience in management, so I had managed staff in the past and had been involved in the hiring process, but really, the staffing industry was brand new for me. I thought I was going to be an individual and not a people manager anymore, and that was completely wrong. You are still managing people; you just aren’t with them every day to see what is happening."
Jessica is the operations manager and part owner as well as a producer at Express Employment Professionals, serving Sarnia Lambton and surrounding areas for all of their staffing needs. "We have contract, evaluation hire and what we call professional or direct hire," Jessica says. "We can help any size company with their search for their next hire, finding that perfect fit." If that sounds like a risky proposition — providing the "perfect fit" to a company in need — Jessica says it is not. "If you are doing it right, it shouldn’t be risky," Jessica insists. "We go through an extensive screening process before the worker goes out. It shouldn’t be a cross-your-fingers-and-hope-they-fit scenario."
Like so many businesses, EEP was directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. "It has been a roller coaster," Jessica says. "In 2018 we were heavy in candidates and there weren’t as many opportunities for them." Fast forward to 2020 with COVID and a lot of businesses were shutting down, so there was a slow six-month period. Suddenly, EEP was seeing a real lack of candidates in the market and with businesses trying to get back on their feet finding themselves with not enough of a workforce."
"This just started to cool off in the summer of this year." Despite the challenges, Jessica says her work is very rewarding. "One time I was recruiting for a startup company that needed 25 full time employees who would receive benefits, paid vacation, extended health care and RRSP matching," Jessica says. "Those 25 candidates had a significant other and one or two children, so I was affecting upwards of 100 people. Who doesn’t love that!"
Jessica has ultimately achieved a real level of comfort in her position. "I really wanted to be rooted to my community and I wanted whatever I did to have some sort of impact on the community and the people around me," Jessica says. "That was important even before I thought about ownership. I wanted to be sure I was making a difference and that I had a purpose. All of us on the EEP management team have that now."
Related Stories
Royal LePage Realty - Adam Dumond
Although he playfully informs his clients that he's an immigrant to Sarnia, Adam Dumond of Royal LePage Realty is an expert on the local housing market. "I moved to Sarnia in 2004 after earning my real estate license in London." His wife was from Sarnia and they knew they wanted to settle here.
Milano's Pizzeria & Subs
The Milanos name has been associated with classic sub sandwiches in the area for a very long time. In May of 2009, siblings Robert Amaral and Elizabeth Law purchased the business from Manual and Zenaida Ferriera, their uncle and aunt. They had owned the business for many years and decided it w
About Face & Body: Laser & Wellness Clinic
When Carolyn Vandersluis purchased About Face and Body: Laser & Wellness Clinic, she knew that the business’s strong community support came from the education, experience and care of her staff. “We take pride in taking care of our...
The first thing you notice when you stroll into Cassie's Cottage Bakery is there is no one named Cassie present. Cassie is actually owner Cathy Harris. People ask me about that all the time, Cathy says. I always joked that when I went out with friends and enjoyed the odd beverage, the fun
Related Stories
Bluewater Power
On November 27, 1916 Sarnia City Council created the Sarnia Hydro-Electric Commission to supply power to Sarnia's residents. Their original office was located at 201 Front Street North. As the city grew, so too did its need for electricity, and the Commission continued to expand in order to meet l
When you ask Executive Director Kerry Henrikson why she believed it was so important to create Pandas/Pans Ontario in 2014, her answer is easy. I didn't want other families to feel isolated and struggle like I did. In 2013, her son and two daughters were all diagnosed with Paediatric Autoimm
Miracle Max's Minions
The next time you see a sunflower, think about little Max Rombouts. Max, you see, is the inspiration behind a fabulous fundraising effort in Lambton County with the money raised going to help families affected by childhood cancer. Max was born in May of 2017 and he was diagnosed with ALL (Acute L
Gramma's Candy Store
Terri Denboer has taken to her new job like a kid in a candy store. That's because on Nov. 10, 2020, Terri opened Gramma's Candy Store in Petrolia. "Yes, I have had lots of people telling me that I must feel like a kid in a candy store," Terri says. "The other one I get all the time is,"
